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A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

I have some family that live in Omaha and during a family Christmas we got to talking about the changes at Nebraska.

Life is good now in Nebraska the suicide rate is down and everything is back in order now that TO is in charge of the state again.

My cousin could not believe ISU got rid of Barney Cotton and was so happy he is back in Nebraska, until I got to talking about his coaching at ISU. With every negative point I stated he had an excuse to why it didnt work for him at ISU.

Stuff like he had the top QB and WR in school history and only they only scored 14 pts a game (well BC is going to be the OL coach at Neb), his OL gave up over 70 sacks in 2 years and they could not run the ball (the talent is better at Nebraska), 2 of the linemen were invited to NFL camps and a couple of them were fairly high recurits (well the linemen at Neb are bigger), these guys were all over 300lbs (the line at Nebraska is older), 4 of the 5 guys were srs (they must have been injured and shouldnt have been playing), the staff said the 2nd string wasnt ready (see I told you and your back wasnt good either) Hicks wasnt a great back but Nebraka had recurited him also, the guys that were not ready only allowed 10 sacks this year and had a good year out of 3 back (its Nebraska it will all work out and our weight program is the best in the nation so that will help and he is bring Ben Cotton and that is huge for the program), so a TE is going to save the FB program at Nebraksa. End of chat.

The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we think we ought to have--and that is a moral problem, not an economic one. - Paul Heyne

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Your cousin is a KneeBraska fan, just be happy he doesnt hurt himself getting up in the morning. Maybe you can put a Barney Cotton sticker on his "helmet" after we beat them this year.
[IMG]http://www.derekburt.com/blog/images/cartman_******.jpg[/IMG]

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Originally Posted by kingcy

Stuff like he had the top QB and WR in school history and only they only scored 14 pts a game (well BC is going to be the OL coach at Neb) .

Ok, this is where I disagree because Meyer is not even in my top 3 of all-time best QB's at ISU. I don't care how many records he holds, Sage, Seneca, and Bandhauer were better. I won't disagree about Cotton though, he was not good here!

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Originally Posted by travman23

Ok, this is where I disagree because Meyer is not even in my top 3 of all-time best QB's at ISU. I don't care how many records he holds, Sage, Seneca, and Bandhauer were better. I won't disagree about Cotton though, he was not good here!

Well I agree on the QB thing but it proved my point to him. To forget about the past and to him Meyer was the best ever. He also mentioned ISU will have a rough year coming up due to the fact that Meyer would be gone.

The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we think we ought to have--and that is a moral problem, not an economic one. - Paul Heyne

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

I can't believe he kept arguing after you pointed out the sack differential between Cotton's lines and McFarland's lines -- especially considering the supposed "greater talent" Cotton had to work with.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

I am a big Husker fan, but I also am a Cyclone fan and attended most of ISU's games in 2004-2006. Kingcy, I fully share your opinion re Cotton, and the Husker naivete is not limited to your cousin, I'm afraid. I posted some statistics on a Husker board backing the thesis that Cotton is a terrible OL and OC, but was greeted either with stony silence or statements that I was a "bad fan". My analysis is below; it's safe to say that I am concerned about the new NU staff:

*************************************

"I'm not sure about whether Cotton is a good O-line coach or not, but the stats you point to are hardly demonstrative of his O-line coaching abilities. Sure we were 7th in the nation in rushing yards/game that year, but we also had the 3nd lowest YPC of the top-30 teams in the nation in rushing yards/game. Also, the O-line that year gave up a sack about 1/10 passing attempts, which is a high percentage, especially considering we had a very mobile QB."

Correct - while the 2003 NU team ran the ball OK (4.3 ypc), it was not close to the previous ypg or ypc averages we'd been used to from 1980-2001 (5.5+ ypc). Ironically, the star-crossed 6-6 2002 team, which Cotton was NOT a part of, was _much_ better at rushing offense in terms of both ypg and ypc. Moreover, under Cotton at ISU, the OL was hideously bad at run blocking in 2005 and 2006 with a veteran line:

2.7 and 3.0 yards per carry when he was directly responsible for the offense.

There just is no statistical evidence whatsoever that Barney Cotton is a good OL coach, or that the running game improved under his watch; in fact, the opposite is true. Where is the statistical evidence for people who support him other than the blind assertion that "he's great"?

Not trying to buzzkill Pelini here, as I think most of his staff is fine and I want him to win and win big. I just have a real problem being criticized when there are facts that support the position that Cotton is not a superb OL coach.

In his 3rd year as OL/OC ISU barely averaged 100 yards per game. 3 years is enough time to see progress, and that average hardly is a ringing endorsement.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Originally Posted by travman23

Ok, this is where I disagree because Meyer is not even in my top 3 of all-time best QB's at ISU. I don't care how many records he holds, Sage, Seneca, and Bandhauer were better. I won't disagree about Cotton though, he was not good here!

What about Alex Espinoza? Just kidding!

Seriously, however, David Archer was a pretty decent QB at ISU.

I cheer for two teams, Iowa State and whoever is playing the hawkeyes.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Well, my response would be that he put our biggest, slowest OL (Scott Fisher) at LT. Not sure why. But it allowed the opposing RE to basically beat Meyer to a pulp game after game. The 2004 and 2005 teams won IN SPITE of their OL, not because of it. Also, McFarland had a better OL in 2007 with ONE returning starter than Cotton had in any of his years at ISU, even the year he had four starters coming back.

As OL coaches (and OC's) I don't think the two coaches are even comparable. Now, I know he'll probably have better talent at NU, but I'm glad he's there rather than here.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

You guys all know I bleed the scarlet and cream. You can add me to the list of those who aren't impressed with Barney "fing" Cotton. This hire was just a head scratcher from the start and even though Pelini says he wanted Cotton, Osborne had to have been nudging Pelini towards guys like Cotton and Ron Brown who's been out of the game for four years.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Why do I have this feeling that Tom Osborne is going to single-handedly ruin Bo Pelini's head coaching career?

Chuck Lidell: I paint my toenails with pink and black polish. Problem is, I get more paint on my toes and on the carpet than on my nails. Any advice?Maria Sharapova: Don't you beat up other guys for a living? I don't know how to answer this.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

Originally Posted by garn91

You guys all know I bleed the scarlet and cream. You can add me to the list of those who aren't impressed with Barney "fing" Cotton. This hire was just a head scratcher from the start and even though Pelini says he wanted Cotton, Osborne had to have been nudging Pelini towards guys like Cotton and Ron Brown who's been out of the game for four years.

And the sad thing is, this plan will probably work out for the huskers.

Re: A Nebraska fans thought on Coach Cotton

get this, shortly after Callahan was fired, Osborne was on the phone to Cotton "welcoming him back into the Husker family" and the day after Pelini was hired, Cotton and Ron Brown were moving into the Husker complex.

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